Jets' Parks Kicks Up Own Age Discrepancy

Little League pitcher Danny Almonte isn't the only New York athlete fielding questions about his age.

Jets punter Tommy Parks is listed as 29 in the team's media guide, but he admitted last week that he actually is 32. Parks also falsified his age last year when trying out for the San Francisco 49ers.

"Pro baseball people advised me not to give a correct age," said Parks, who played minor league baseball from 1995-98. "I've been going by that age for so long it's become a part of me."

Asked whether it was morally wrong for Little League players to lie about their age, Parks said, "Not at all. I [fudged] for sports. That's the only thing it's for. It's morally wrong to judge you on your age. It only matters what you can do. Age is only a number."

While not exactly a great role model for youth sports, Parks has shown enough in training camp that he is expected to have a spot on New York's roster until starter Tom Tupa recovers from a hip injury.

"I don't really care how old he is," Jets General Manager Terry Bradway said. "I really don't have a problem with it. It has no bearing on what he has done since he's been here.